Siddons considers Wellington role

Jamie Siddons is in contention to become the next coach of Wellington after Anthony Stuart vacated the role at the end of the 2010-11 season. The former Bangladesh coach will be interviewed next week, and he said he had spoken to his former South Australia team-mate and current Wellington assistant Shane Deitz, who is also hoping to get the job.

"We spoke about Wellington, the players, the facilities and about living there," Siddons told the Dominion Post. "He [Deitz] was really helpful. We got on really well, I played with him and coached him. He's quite keen, if I was to get the job, to work alongside me, and is obviously also keen to get the job himself.

"There's still a few things that need to happen for it to take place. But after speaking to [Wellington CEO Gavin Larsen] I'm a bit more excited about going through the interview process and seeing where that leads."

Matthew Maynard, the former England batsman, had been considered the frontrunner, but is now a strong candidate to become an assistant to Duncan Fletcher, the new coach of India. The Wellington appointment will be made by a panel including Larsen and New Zealand's new director of cricket, John Buchanan, who during his time as Australia's coach had Siddons as an assistant.

"I think he'd be a fantastic asset in the New Zealand Cricket setup," Buchanan said. "To have that international experience within the domestic competition would be a huge bonus for NZC and I hope we can entice him this way."